The official Budget day thread

[JC Footy Genius]

At the time of the Autumn Statement the Tories looked set to have to make big welfare cuts, which they didn't want to do. Then the OBR presented a positive forecast and the Tories pronounced they wouldn't have to make those cuts because tax revenues were expected to be higher and would fill the gap.

Well - surprise, surprise - the forecasts are wrong, the growth estimate was over-optimistic and some cuts will now have to be made. Except that won't stop him slashing CGT so his mates can sell their share options and trouser a few thousand extra while those on disability benefit worry whether they can make ends meet.

And "gentle mocking" of the Lib Dems. Did you hear the contempt in his voice? He is claiming personal credit for a policy that has been successful that isn't his that he didn't even want and badging it "doing things the Tory way". It was LIB DEM policy, and now he mocks them in a full House of Commons with the world's media trained on him, saying how he'd like to abolishing them. I bet the creep would LOVE that, getting rid of a party that put the lower paid top of the agenda when they got into power.

Does he not appreciate the importance of political debate, the importance to democracy of having strong opposition parties, parties with ideas that are different?

It would have been nice to think that 5 years of coalition would at least have made him more respectful of the other parties. In fact, quite the opposite is true. He's actually Hitleresque in many ways - deluded, proud, vain, takes credit for other people's work and ideas etc whilst harbouring intent to wipe out any opposition or dissenters.

I'm guessing your a traumatised Lib Dem supporter then. Hitleresque ... really

 

[Pavilionaire]

I'm guessing your a traumatised Lib Dem supporter then. Hitleresque ... really

George Osborne is a small man, looking after his rich chums, spinning his web of deceit. Why not be the big man? Give credit where it is due by acknowledging the people that you were in government with actually did have some good ideas that have actually worked. Most people can see through the bullshit, but many can't. He embodies all the worst traits of Thatcherism without having any of her upside, like a bit of guts, a game plan, personal conviction.

I just find it worrying that the man most likely to take over from Cameron is the sort of person that conducts himself like this. At least Cameron conducts himself with respect, he is generally even-handed and fair-minded. Osborne, on the other hand, has something about him that is not to be trusted, and I believe he's actually quite a weak politician. There's no way a coalition with the Lib Dems would have lasted 5 years with him in charge.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

George Osborne is a small man, looking after his rich chums, spinning his web of deceit. Why not be the big man? Give credit where it is due by acknowledging the people that you were in government with actually did have some good ideas that have actually worked. Most people can see through the bullshit, but many can't. He embodies all the worst traits of Thatcherism without having any of her upside, like a bit of guts, a game plan, personal conviction.

I just find it worrying that the man most likely to take over from Cameron is the sort of person that conducts himself like this. At least Cameron conducts himself with respect, he is generally even-handed and fair-minded. Osborne, on the other hand, has something about him that is not to be trusted, and I believe he's actually quite a weak politician. There's no way a coalition with the Lib Dems would have lasted 5 years with him in charge.

Basically he's like virtually every other politician then. I can't remember any Lib Dem ministers praising or giving credit to Conservatives in fact they are in the process of releasing numerous memoirs rubbishing their ex coalition partners. I know Cameron and Clegg had to present a 'united in the national interest' front but that slowly dissolved over time. There are numerous political truisms which include, never give credit to your opponents, nick all their good policies/ideas then present them as your own. It was ever thus.

He clearly has a plan apart from the 'long term economic' one. He wants to significantly shrink the size of the state (as do the gov) and become the next PM. In truth any Chancellor inheriting the 2010 economic circumstances would have had to make difficult, unpopular decisions and would be a hate figure for many. He certainly doesn't present a warm or compassionate persona and ticks the usual hate boxes (white, wealthy, Tory, Eton etc) but I'm not overly concerned about these superficial characteristics it's how he does his job. On the substantive points I certainly don't consider him to be particularly impressive or politically astute as some do but he is overseeing a broadly positive growing economy so probably deserves some credit.

 

[beorhthelm]

...On the substantive points I certainly don't consider him to be particularly impressive or politically astute as some do but he is overseeing a broadly positive growing economy so probably deserves some credit.

the only credit Osborne deserves is that he doesn't fiddle enough to break the economy. his general approach has been to do nothing, let the economy sort itself out, i'm not sure if this is by design or fear of getting it wrong. from the lack of coherence and bottling every opportunity to make big changes, i assume its the latter.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Basically he's like virtually every other politician then. I can't remember any Lib Dem ministers praising or giving credit to Conservatives in fact they are in the process of releasing numerous memoirs rubbishing their ex coalition partners. I know Cameron and Clegg had to present a 'united in the national interest' front but that slowly dissolved over time. There are numerous political truisms which include, never give credit to your opponents, nick all their good policies/ideas then present them as your own. It was ever thus.

He clearly has a plan apart from the 'long term economic' one. He wants to significantly shrink the size of the state (as do the gov) and become the next PM. In truth any Chancellor inheriting the 2010 economic circumstances would have had to make difficult, unpopular decisions and would be a hate figure for many. He certainly doesn't present a warm or compassionate persona and ticks the usual hate boxes (white, wealthy, Tory, Eton etc) but I'm not overly concerned about these superficial characteristics it's how he does his job. On the substantive points I certainly don't consider him to be particularly impressive or politically astute as some do but he is overseeing a broadly positive growing economy so probably deserves some credit.

You could just as easily say that the growth in the economy started slowing the moment the coalition ended. The OBR are downgrading their forecasts and deeper cuts in public spending are on the way, yet now the Lib Dems are gone Osborne is going out of his way to please his City chums with the CGT cuts, while the sub-contractors of Middle England are about to start suffering the 7 1/2% dividend tax.

Here, a contractor with a personal service earning £43,000 taking £11,000 salary would have suffered just £6,400 corporation tax and no income tax - now they will suffer the same £6,400 CT bill but also have to pay £1,545 income tax on dividends, so a 24.14% increase in their tax burden overnight, an extra £129 a month starting in 3 week's time. That's a huge hike, and it wasn't even mentioned in the Tory May 2015 election manifesto or the run-up to the election, but introduced literally weeks later after their election victory.

A triple lock on tax - income tax / VAT / NICs? He gets round it by introducing a brand new tax. I can't believe the sheer gall of the man, or that the mainstream media haven't picked up on it yet.

 

[jackanada]

A truly vile budget. The vast majority of our press are in their pockets given how minor the criticisms are.
Thousands more deaths of disabled and vulnerable people on the way, education and the NHS destroyed, and all so a few people already wealthy beyond any possible need can line their pockets.
May God have mercy on your souls Tory voters.